Automatic door closing and locking device



Nov. 5,1928. 1,690,264

` C. L. WOLFE ET AL 'w Ilm Ivm Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,264

c. L. woLFE ET AL AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING AND LOCKING ADEVICE Filed-July18, 192s 5 sheets-sheet 2 mlm? | i 1 l 25' l o Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,264

` c. L. woLFE ET AL Filed July 18, 1923 l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IMNW@ E llllllNov. 6, 1928. 1,690,264

C. L. WOLFE ET AL AUTCMATICDOOR CLosINC AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed July18. 1925 5 sheets-sheet 4 lll/[lllIlllIIlllllIll/{ll/IL Nov. 6, "1928.1,690,264

' C. L. WOLFE ET AL AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed July1'8. 192:5 s sheets-sheet 5 MUM/M185 Patented Nov. 5, 1928.

llhll'ltl STATES rear ortica.

CLINTON L. WOLFE, OF BROOKLYN, AND OSEEH A. FAROT, QF NEVI YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC DOORCL'GSTG AND LOCKING DEVICE.

Application led July 18,

rlhis :invention relates to an automatic door closing and locking`device and is' particularly adapted for use in connection with the doorsof banks, pay cars, cashiers cages and other buildings and institutionswhere securities and valuables are contained.

@ne of the objects of this invention is to provide an automaticallycontrolled door closing and locking device which will lbe efA fici entand positive in its operation and so arranged that the same may beoperated electrically, employing distant controlmeans embodying aplurality of circuit closing devices conveniently disposed at aplurality of strategical points.

y The invention further contemplates the provision of alarms which areoperat'able when the doors are closed whereupon it is necessary only toactuate one of the controlling devices whereupon the doors of the bankor other institution will automatically close at the same time soundingan alarm for the purpose of calling assistance.

Other objects as well as the advantages in- Y cident to our improvedarrangement will be made more apparent as this description proceedsespecially when considered in conpection with the accompanyingdrawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragn'ientary elevation of a pair of doors with a portion ofour improved locking means applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one of the main door controllingmembers,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the door controlling members with thecover removed,

` Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantiallyY on the plane indicatedby line d d in Y Fig. 3, l

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one ofthe door K lcontrolling inen'ibers,partly in section,

Fig. 6 ,is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicatedlby line 6 6 in Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view with the ratchetmember reversed,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 3 showing the dog inreversed position corresponding to the position of the ratchetillustrated in Fig. 7,

9 is a fragmentary elevational view of one form of a circuit closingdevice,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken kon the plane indicated by line 10-10in Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the structure 1923. Serial No. 652,434:A

illustrated in Fig. l() with a part removed to show the interiorconstruction,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing means for securing thedoor in open position, v

Fig. 13 is a section al view through the door holding` means illustratedin Figf12,

lll is a view of a relay circuit breaker and alarm controlling device,and

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of one Wiringarrangement which might beemployed.

Referring` now more particularly to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts, it will be noted that We haveillustrated a pair of doors 10 suitably hinged to a door frame 11. Ourimproved arrano'ement contemplates means for automatically closingthesey doors and for securing them in closed position.

For accomplishing this we provide a pair of door closing membersindicated generally by the reference character 12. Each of the members12 comprises a base or bottom 13 forming with a removable cover 14racasing designed to enclose most of the operating parts. Interposedbetween the base 13 and cover 14 is a pulley member 15 adapted to havewound thereon a chain 16, the free end of which is connected to abracket 17 secured to the door.

Each pulley wheel consists of a hollow hub 18 providing` means forhousing a coil spring 19, one end of which is connected to the pulleyhub while the other end is connected to a stub shaft or axle 20. Thestub shaft 20 is provided with squared ends 21 fitting into similarlyshaped openings formed in the bot-V tom or base 18 and a supplementalpartition 22 extending across the cover 141-. In this manner the shaft2O is prevented from rotating while the pulley member 15 is mounted torotate upon this shaft, its rotation in one direction being influencedby the tension of the coil springA 19. The direction of rotation of thepulley 15 tends to wind thereon the chain 16 for the purpose of closingthe doors 10 as will be obvious. l Y

On each face of the pulley 15 is a circumferential row of ratchet teeth28 adapted to cooperate with a dog` 24 pivoted to either of a pair ofstuds 25 or 26 projecting upwardly from thel supplemental `partition 22of the cover 14. The dog 211 ispivoted to the pair of studs 25 when thepulley' member is in the position illustrated `in Figs. Ll, 5 and 6, but

when the pulley member is reversed as illus* trated in Fig. 7 the dog 24will be pivoted to the pair of lugs 2G, ln this manner the same doorcontrolling member l2 may be used for closing and lockingl either oi' apair or' doors l which norma lv swing in opposite directions. In Fig. 8the g 24 is shown pivoted to the pair or' lues 26 whereby it is inposition to electively cooperate with the ratchet teeth 233 ot thepulley member' l5 which is shown in its reversed position in Fig. 7.

The dog 24 is pivoted so as to normally drop by gravity into eli'ectiveengagement with the ratchet teeth 23 and when in lower position itprevents a retrograde rotation et the pulley or in other Words, arotation ol the pulley which would permit an opening of the doors l0.However the angle of the ratchet teeth is so arranged that after thedogs have dropped by gravity into engageinent therewith these dogs willslide over the ratchet teeth to permit the rotation ot' the pulleymembers in a direction to Wind thereon the chains for the purpose otclosing the doors 10.

For maintaining the dogs 24 in their upper position We associate Witheach ot the niembers l2 a solenoid 27 having a movable core 28 whichengages an arm 29 secured to a latch member pivoted as at 3l to thesupplemental partition 22 ot the cover. r'he dog 24 is provided with alaterally extending oft'- set 32 under which the free end oi' the latch30 is adapted to engage. Obviously it the solenoid 27 is kept energizedthe core 28 thereot will be held in its extended position in engagementwith the arm 29 thus maintainingI the latch 30 in a raised positionwhereby it engages the projection 32 of the dog 24 tor maintaining thedop; in a raised posit-ion out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 23oli the pulley member as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

The solenoids 27 are therefore preferably included in a closed circuitby which they are maintained energized thus keeping` their cores inextended position and maintaining the dogs 24 out ot engagement with theratchet teeth. Gbviously therefore if the circuit to the solenoid 27 isbroken the core 28 thereof Will move downwardly thus releasing the latchmember 3() and permitting the dog 24 to drop by gravity into engagementWith its associated ratchet teeth 28. In the event it is necessary ordesirable to safeguard against an accidental or unintentional operationot the de ice due to short circuit or otherwise, We provide key actuatedlockingmeans for niaintaining the dogs 24 out of engagement with theirassociate ratchet teeth. This locking means is illustrated particularlyin Figs. 3 and 4 Wherein there is shown a key actuated locking cylinderheld rigidly against a pair ot studs 34 by means ot bolt 35 whichthrough studs 3G, and screiv-threadedly engage lugs formed on thelockingl cylinder. Upon the insertion o'l a proper key into the lockingcylinder i523 the core may be rotated and with it lock bar 32 preferablya flat metal strip, i ted.y as illustrated in Fig. 4 will en undersideot the latch bar 30 to ra ne, thus also raising' the dog 24 andmaintaining the same out ot' engagement with the ratchet teeth. Thus thedevice may be locked in inoperative position when desired.

li-iasrnnch as the device tends to normally close the doors, it isdesirable and necessary that niet be employed lier securing the doors inopen position and to this end, We preferably employ the releasable doorsecuring' means substantially as illustrated in our lgatent No. 2,011.4granted te us April 17th, 1923. Reterring particularly to Figs. l2 and13 it ivill be noted that in this present instance, the releasable doorsecuring means is illustrated as being enclosed in a casing 3S) hai/ingon its outer side a hook 40 adapted to engage a keeper 4l secured eitherto the floor or to the Wall adjacent the door in open position. ilsolenoid 42 is arranged within the casing S9, the movable core 43 ofWhich is adapted to maintain a latch 44 in operative position to engagea hook latch 45, carried by the hook 40. While the solenoid 42 isenergized the hook member 40 which is pivoted to the casing as at 46will be maintained in position to engage the chain 47 to thus hold thedoor1 in its open position. ViThen, however, the solenoid 42 iscle-energized its core Will drop thus releasing the hook member 40 whichin turn becomes disengaged trom the chain 47 to release the door. lt isdesirable to provide a plurality of circuit controlling devices arrangedat stratcgical points throughout the building so that door closing andlocking devices may be actuated 'from any of these points. ln manyinstances the circuit to a relay circuit breaker, yet to be described,will be closed by the use ot ordinary circuit closers ot the pushbuttontype. However, in p aces such ttor instance as the cashiers cage or thelike it is often 'found desirable to provide means such as a 'toot restbar so positioned as to be conveniently actuated by the cashier Withoutany appreciable or noticeable movement or action on his part. Therctore.We have provided a circuit closing device which consists of a foot restin the torniV olE a bar 48 supported by a pair ot brackets 49 pivoted asat 50 to a pair of standards or uprights il preferably secured to theHoor, Under ordinary circumstances the bar 4S Will be d seed by the feetof the cashier' but ivhen it is desired to close the circuit to therelay circuit breaker, this may be accomplished by raising the bar 48.For this purlatch keeper 57 provided with an offset (ill pose one of thestandards 51 is providedpreferably with a hollow enlargement 52 in whichthere isarranged a push-,button Contact 53 adapted to be closed by ashoe 54 arranged on the end'of a rod 55 displaceable by a projection 56projecting from the bracket 59. Obviously, therefore if the bar 48 isswung upwardly the push-button contacts will be closed thus completingthe circuit through the relay circuit breaker.

The relay device consists of a pair of magnets 56 adapted to yinfluencethe pivoted adapted to engage undera. 59 projecting laterally from anarm 6() pivoted as at (5l to the supporting` frame G2 of the relaydevice. A weight 63 tends'to normally swing the arm about its pivet 6lin a downward direction. this movement being normally restricted byengagement of the projection 58 under the lug 59. Obviously, when themagnets 56 of the relay device are energized the latch 57 will be drawntoward the magnet to release the arm 60.

By referring particularly to Fig. l5 it will be noted that the arm 60carries a contact point 64e adapted to engage either the contact 65 or acontact 66. The contact 66 is in circuit by means of a wire 67 with aplurality of alarm devices in the form of bells 68. The source ofcurrent `G9 has a. wire 7() leading therefrom which in turn is connectedbyL branch wires 71 to the several alarm devices 68. In this ligure, thesolenoids 27 of several door locking devices are illustrated as well asthe solenoids 42 of die several door releasing mechanisms. Thesesolenoids 27 and e2 are all connected in parallel, branch wires 72 beingprovided which connect with a. wire 73 connected to the contact 65. Awire 74 leads from the other side of the source of current G9 andcompletes a closed circuit to the solenoids 27 and 42. Circuit closingdevices such as the foot actuated type illustrated in Figs. 9 to l1 orthe usual commercial push-button type are illustrated as zit-'75, aplurality of these being situated, as mentioned hereinbefore at anydesired point. n

Normally the circuit is closed from the source of current around throughthe solenoiry s 27 and ft2 through the Contact 65, arm 30 to the frameof the relay circuit breaker and thence through wires 74 to the sourceof current. rlhis normally closed circuit main tains the solenoids 27and 42 energized. lf, however, any circuit closing device 75 isactuated, a second circuit isclosed energizing the magnets 5G whichactuates the latch keeper 57 releasing the arm 60 permitting the weight(53 to move its arm to its lowermost position whereupon it engagescontact G6 and completes the circuit through the alarm devices G8. Themovement of the arm 60 has moved the Contact 64- froni thecontact 65whereupon the circuit to the solenoids 27 and 42 is broken,

the door releasing devices release the doors and the door lockingdevices are actuated to cause the dogs to engage the ratchet teeth ofthe pulley members.. Obviously, the arm 60 will remain in its lowermostposition thus keeping closed the circuit to the alarm devices which willcontinue to function until the'device has been reset.

. Obviously with the structural arrangement herein described it ispossible to reverse the position of the pulley members so that theratchet teeth thereof will effectively prevent the opening of a doorswinging in either direction so that a pair of similarly constructedmembers'l2 may be positioned to close and lock a pair of swinging doors.The mechanism in thedevices is suitably enclosedV so that the same isnot unsightly and will not mar the attractiveness of the building inwhich it is used.

Obvious modilications will suggest themselves to those skilled in thisart and for this reason, reservation is made to make such changes in thedetails of construction as may come within the purview of theaccompanying claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

l. The combination with a door of a door closing and locking arrangementcomprising a spring influenced pulley member, liexible means connectingsaid door to said pulley member, means for lockingr said pulley toprevent lthe opening of said door, means for holding said door open, andelectrically controlled means for simultaneously releasing said doorholding means, and actuating said pulley locking means from a distantoint.

2. The combination witha door o a closing and locking device comprisinga casing, a pulley member mounted within said casing, iiexible meansconnecting said door to said pulley member, a series of ratchetteetharranged on each face of said pulley member, the teeth of one face beingoperative in the reverse direction from those of the other face, meansfor engaging the teeth of one series for preventing rotation of saidpulley member in one direction, said pulley member being reversible topresent the other series of teeth to said engaging means, to preventrotation,y

of said pulley in the opposite direction.

3. The combination with a door and a door frame ofa door closing andlocking device comprising a casing mounted upon the door frame, a pulleymember rotatably mounted within the casing, flexible means secured tosaid pulley andk said door, ratchet teeth `formed on said pulley member,a gravity actuated dog for engaging said ratchet teethv and solenoidcontrolledmeans for normally holding said dog in inoperative position.

Il. The combination with a door and door frame lof a door closing andlocking device comprising a pulley member, flexible means connectingsaid pulley member to said door, a casing for supporting said pulleymember mounted on said frame, said pulley member being reversiblymounted in said casing, a series of ratchet teeth toi-med on each faceof said pulley, the teeth of one series being operative in the reversedirection from .those or the other series, a dog mounted Within saidcasing for engaging one series of ratchet teeth to prevent rotation ofthe pulley in one direction and' solenoid means for normally holdingsaid dog in inoperative position, the mounting for the dog heilig soconstructed that the dog may be reversed to engage the other series ofratchet teeth when the pulley is reversed to prevent rotation of thepulley in the opposite direction, whereby said de vice may beassociatedwvith doors moving in opposite directions.

5. The combination with a door and door 20 frame ot a door closing andlocking means comprising a pulley mounted on said trame, a flexiblemember connecting said pulley to said door, a spring tending to rotatesaid pulley to Wind said flexible member on said pulley and pull saidydoor closed, means for locking said pulley to prevent the door fromopening and means for controlling said pulley locking means from adistant point.

The foregoing specification signed at New 3 York, N. Y., this 25th dayof J une, 1923.

CLINTON L. VVOLFE. JOSEPH A. FAUROT.

